This blog post was written by our student ambassador Allyjah, who is a student of the Interaction Design programme at Estonian Academy of Arts.
Finances are always a major consideration when studying abroad, and yet they are also one of the least publicly discussed aspects. It was one of my biggest concerns—how much money I would need to have stashed to even apply to school, especially without a scholarship.
Thankfully, I had a friend who had studied in Estonia two years prior, so I had a ballpark number in my head. Still, I ended up spending it on unexpected expenses.
So, to give you a clearer idea of how much you need to save for your studies, here’s a list of everything I spent when I was preparing to study in Estonia!
1. English Language Test: €188
Most universities require a certain score on an English language test if you did not come from EU/EEA member states, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.
My school accepted results from IELTS, TOEFL, FCE, CAE, CPE, and PTE. I chose IELTS because it had the most convenient testing location for me.
2. Application Fee: €80
Application fees vary among schools and even study programs, so make sure to check the admissions page of the specific program you want to attend.
I paid this fee via Wise, as my school required the money to be wired to their bank account.
3. Courier Fees for School Documents: €64.65
After I got conditionally accepted into my program, I needed to physically send a copy of my diploma and transcript to my school. This procedure was necessary for them to check the validity of my credentials.
This was an expense I didn’t initially account for, and it took me by surprise how expensive it was!
4. 1st Semester Tuition Fee: €2,000
The last condition to clear up before I got officially accepted into my school was the payment of my 1st semester’s tuition fee.
Tuition fees are generally more expensive for students outside of the EU and vary from school to school and from program to program.
5. Dorm Room Deposit and Reservation Fee: €570
To lock in my spot for my school’s dormitory, I had to pay a deposit and reservation fee. Both are worth one month of rent, so the total amount is equivalent to two months of rent.
It’s worth noting that I got a studio apartment, so your costs will be significantly lower if you share a room, kitchen, and bathroom.
6. Health Insurance: €197.10
If you’re coming from outside the EU, you will need to apply for a D-visa. One of the requirements to attain this visa is health insurance that covers you for the entire duration of your applied stay. In my case, which will probably apply to yours too, it was 365 days.
I chose Swiss care as they offered the cheapest rate and decent coverage.
7. Visa Fee: €120
Of course, you will have to pay a Visa Fee to the Estonian embassy. You’ll also have to take into consideration the expenses for traveling to the embassy, as not all countries have an Estonian embassy.
In my case, I had to travel to South Korea to process my visa. Thankfully, I was able to get my documents within the one week I had allotted for the trip.
This list is not exhaustive, of course, as there are other expenses you’ll have to take care of. These include the fees for requesting documents from your school (if they are not free). You may also need to take a GRE General Test, depending on what your school requires—and this is not cheap.
Your expenses will also vary greatly depending on your location. For context, I came from the Philippines, so costs like the courier fees and health insurance might differ from yours. So, make sure to do your research so you can budget ahead of time!
Find out which international degree programmes are available for you in Estonia.
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